Jean-François Bérubé Bio
Jean-François Bérubé is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his career, he played for several National Hockey League teams, including the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks, while also spending significant time in the American Hockey League. Bérubé began his professional career in 2010 and retired in 2023 after an impressive tenure spanning more than a decade in professional hockey.
Standing 185 centimeters tall and competing at approximately 80 kilograms, Bérubé built his reputation as a steady and reliable netminder who could step into starting roles at both the AHL and NHL levels. His career path took him through six NHL organizations, reflecting the journeyman life of a backup goaltender who continually adapted to new systems and teammates.
Early Life and Background
Jean-François Bérubé was born on July 13, 1991, in Repentigny, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in the Mille-Îles area of Laval, Quebec, where he developed his early passion for hockey. As a youth player, he participated in the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, an event that has long served as a showcase for some of the province’s most promising young talent.
Bérubé honed his goaltending skills through Quebec’s renowned minor hockey system before advancing to major junior hockey. Prior to turning professional, he played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Montreal Junior Hockey Club, a program that has produced numerous NHL goaltenders over the years.
Path to Hockey
Bérubé’s progression through Quebec’s competitive hockey ranks positioned him as a credible NHL prospect by his late teens. His performances with the Montreal Junior Hockey Club drew the attention of National Hockey League scouts, leading to his selection by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round, 95th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
That selection marked a major milestone in his development and signaled the organization’s belief in his long-term potential between the pipes. Rather than rushing him to the NHL, the Kings opted to allow Bérubé to continue refining his craft at the junior and minor professional levels before making the jump to the American Hockey League.
Jean-François Bérubé Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
Bérubé began his professional career in 2010 and spent his first several seasons developing within the Los Angeles Kings organization. On May 24, 2011, the Kings signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract, formalizing his transition to the professional ranks. He was assigned to the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, where he served as the team’s starting goaltender and continued to refine his technique against higher-caliber competition.
Throughout his time with the Monarchs, Bérubé demonstrated the consistency and poise required of a top minor-league netminder. His steady development kept him within the Kings’ goaltending pipeline until the 2015–16 season, when organizational decisions altered his trajectory.
New York Islanders Era (2015–2017)
On October 6, 2015, the Los Angeles Kings placed Bérubé on waivers after selecting Jhonas Enroth as the team’s backup for the season. The New York Islanders claimed him off waivers the same day, immediately adding goaltending depth to their roster. Four days later, on October 10, 2015, Bérubé made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks, stopping 30 of 34 shots despite a 4–1 loss.
Bérubé opened the 2016–17 season with the Islanders, working behind veteran goaltenders Jaroslav Halák and Thomas Greiss. When the Islanders waived Halák in December 2016, Bérubé became the team’s full-time backup. He recorded three wins in 14 appearances before Halák was later recalled. As an impending Group VI free agent following his two-year stint with the Islanders, Bérubé was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2017–2018)
On July 1, 2017, Bérubé signed a two-year free agent contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth a total of $1.5 million. He began the season in the American Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs, where he posted a 7–8 record with a 2.37 goals-against average. Bérubé was recalled to Chicago on February 15, 2018, and made his Blackhawks debut on February 23 in a 3–1 win over the San Jose Sharks.
He finished the 2017–18 season with a 3–6–1 record in 10 starts for the Blackhawks, registering a 3.78 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. On June 27, 2018, Bérubé was traded by the Blackhawks to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Jordan Schroeder.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2018–2019)
Bérubé spent the 2018–19 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, continuing his role as a dependable AHL-level goaltender. Following the conclusion of his contract, he departed as a free agent on July 1, 2019.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2019–2020)
On July 1, 2019, Bérubé signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. After attending the Flyers’ training camp, he was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, for the 2019–20 season. He appeared in 29 games with the Phantoms, posting a 12–11–4 record along with three shutouts. With the Flyers opting to increase the roles of their younger prospects, Bérubé was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for future considerations on February 19, 2020, joining their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.
New York Rangers and Ontario Reign Era (2020–2021)
On December 31, 2020, Bérubé signed a one-year contract with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. He spent the 2020–21 season with the Reign, continuing to provide veteran stability in net.
Return to Columbus and Florida Panthers Era (2021–2023)
As a free agent over the following summer, Bérubé was invited to attend the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp in preparation for the 2021–22 season. On October 1, 2021, after impressing through camp, he was signed to a one-year, two-way contract. With the Blue Jackets hampered by injuries to their goaltenders, Bérubé added to his NHL experience by appearing in six games and collecting three wins.
Following the conclusion of his contract, Bérubé was invited on a professional tryout to attend the Florida Panthers’ 2022 training camp. He was later assigned and signed a professional tryout with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, to begin the 2022–23 season. At the NHL trade deadline, the Panthers signed Bérubé to a one-year, two-way contract on March 3, 2023, for the remainder of the season in order to add goaltending depth. His time with the Panthers marked the final NHL chapter of his playing career before his retirement in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Bérubé’s career were his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 10, 2015, and his first NHL victory with the Chicago Blackhawks on February 23, 2018, against the San Jose Sharks. His selection in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights also stood out as a notable milestone, recognizing his standing within the league even as he continued to operate primarily as a backup.
Jean-François Bérubé Career Wins
Jean-François Bérubé recorded NHL regular-season wins with the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, and Columbus Blue Jackets across his professional career. He also collected victories at the AHL level with affiliates including the Manchester Monarchs, Rockford IceHogs, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Hartford Wolf Pack, Ontario Reign, and Charlotte Checkers. His combined NHL and AHL win totals reflect the longevity of a goaltender who spent more than a decade in professional hockey.
NHL Highlights
Bérubé’s first NHL win came during the 2015–16 season after being claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders. His most productive NHL stretch occurred during the 2021–22 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he collected three wins in six appearances while filling in for injured goaltenders. He also earned wins with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017–18 season after being recalled from the Rockford IceHogs.
AHL and Other Performances
At the AHL level, Bérubé posted a 12–11–4 record with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during the 2019–20 season, including three shutouts. He also recorded a 7–8 mark with the Rockford IceHogs in 2017–18 while maintaining a strong 2.37 goals-against average.
Jean-François Bérubé Family
Family Background and Hockey Roots
Jean-François Bérubé grew up in the Mille-Îles area of Laval, Quebec, a region with a rich tradition of producing hockey talent. His development within Quebec’s competitive minor hockey system laid the foundation for his professional career.
Personal Life
Public details about Bérubé’s personal life, including marital status and family, are not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Jean-François Bérubé retired from professional hockey in 2023 following the conclusion of his contract with the Florida Panthers organization. As a result, he is not expected to participate in the 2024–25 NHL or AHL season. His post-playing career activities have not been publicly detailed.
Throughout his career, Bérubé was widely respected for his professionalism and readiness, qualities that allowed him to contribute at both the AHL and NHL levels across six different organizations. His path from a fourth-round draft pick to a veteran journeyman goaltender illustrates the perseverance required to sustain a long professional career in professional hockey.
While Bérubé is no longer active on the ice, his career remains a testament to the depth of goaltending talent developed through Quebec’s junior programs and the broader North American professional hockey system.